Heel holder for cableless ski binding



Sept- 9; 1969 1 H.noBL1.-.R 3,466,057

HEEL HOLDER FOR CABLELESS SKI BINDING Filed Jan. l0. `1968 5 Sheets-Sheet l F1g.1 n

8 15 Fig.2

H. DOBLER HEEL HOLDER FOR cABLELEss sx1 BINDING Sept. 9,` 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. `1o. 196e Sept.V 9; 1969 H. [3051.511` 3,466,057

HEEL HOLDER FOR CABLELESS SKI BINDING United States Patent O 3,466,057 HEEL HOLDER FOR CABLELESS SKI BINDING Hans Dobler, Zurich, Switzerland, assignor to A. Attenhofer AG, Zurich, Switzerland Filed Jan. 10, 1968, Ser. No. 696,917 Claims priority, applicatgl Svitzerland, Jan. 12, 1967,

Int. Cl. A63c 9/12, 9/24 U.S. Cl. 280-1L35 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The heel holder proper slides along a pivotal rod in response to rotation of the operating lever to which it is coupled by a pin-and-slot, which guide the heel holder proper in its movement. Two springs maintain the heel holder proper in closed position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a heel holder for cableless ski bindings, in which the heel holder proper of the heel holder is `moved by an operating lever passing through its dead-center position to a closed position under the influence of at least one spring, in which closed position the heel holder proper bears on the top of the ski-boot heel.

SUMMARY OF 'I'HE INVENTION The heel holder of the invention has the advantage that it is unusually simple in construction and at the same time -absolutely reliable in operation.

An object of the invention is a heel holder of which the heel holder proper is la slider guided for movement with respect to an arm pivotal about an axis transverse to the ski.

This object and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be described with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the heel holder in closed position;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the heel holder of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a side View in section of the heel holder in closed position; 'and FIGS. 4 to 6 are views respectively of the heel holder closed, partly open, and open.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION With reference to the gures, the heel holder is mounted on a bed plate 1, the under surface of which incorporates corrugations or teeth which engage those on the upper surface of a base plate 2. The position of the bed plate 1 is adjustable in the longitudinal direction of the ski, the bed plate being xed in the desired position by a screw 3.

The Ebed plate mounts a bearing bracket 4 having a pin 5 about which an arm 6, U-shaped in cross section, is free to pivot. Also mounted on the pin 5 is a sleeve 7, which can be manufactured -as a part integral with a rod ICC 8 or otherwise rigidly connected thereto. A slider 9, slidably mounted on the rod 8, is advantageously manufactured as an integral part incorporating two curved prolongations 10` that bear on the top of the heel. The slider comprises the heel holder proper.

The slider 9 is slidable along the length of the rod 8 under the action of the operating lever 11, which pivots about a pin 12 that passes through the pivotal arm 6 and is coupled to the slider 9 by means of a pin 13 and slot 14 arrangement. As shown in the figures, the pin 13, which is fixed to the slider, passes through the yarcuate slot 14, embodied in each side wall of the lever 11, which is U-shaped in cross section. The two slots are arcs of identical circles that are concentric with the pin 12.

The heel holder further has a pair of helical springs 15, located symmetrically with respect to the arm 6 and the parts mounted thereupon. The upper ends of the springs are connected to a crosstie 17 which passes through an elongation 16 of the lever 11 and is free to pivot therein, and the lower ends of the springs are connected to a crosstie 18 which passes through, and is free to pivot in, a bearing 19 formed in the bed plate 1. The tension of the springs advantageously can be adjusted in a known manner by turning a threaded bolt.

The way in which the heel holder is used is apparent from the preceding description and the iigures, particularly FIGURES 4 to 6, as well as from the following explanation.

FIG. 4 shows the heel holder closed, wherein the slider 9 and its prolongations 10 press on the top of the heel of the ski boot A partly shown in dashed line. The operating lever 11 is pivoted forward (counterclockwise as seen in FIG. 4) about the pin 12 until the springs 15 are put under tension. Since the pull of the springs between the crossties 17 and 18 lies in front of the pin 12, the action of the springs is to hold the operating lever 11 in the closed position.

The heel holder is released by pushing the lever 11 rearwards (clockwise as seen in FIGS. 4 to 6) past the dead-center position, whereby the springs: are relaxed and the slider 9 simultaneously raised by the pin-and-slot 13 and 14. As a result of opening the heel holder, the parts of the holder pass from the positions of FIG. 4, through those of FIG. 5, to those of FIG. 6.

Although the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described, the scope of, and the breadth of protection aiforded to, the invention are limited solely by the `appended claim.

I claim:

1. In a cableless ski binding, frame means for mounting on the top surface of a ski, lever means, irst pivot means connecting said lever means to said frame means for movement about a horizontal axis transverse to the longitudinal direction of said ski, `an actuating lever, second pivot means parallel with said horizontal axis connecting said actuating lever to said lever means, spring means connecting said actuating lever with said frame means in such a manner as to have a dead-center position when said second pivot means is on a straight line be tween the connection points of said spring means with said actuating lever and frame means, rod means having one end rotatably mounted on said first pivot means, clamping means slidably mounted on said rod means and adapted for engagement with the heel of a ski shoe in position in the binding, a pin and slot connection between said clamping lmeans and said actuating lever, whereby when said spring means occupies a position to one side of said dead-center position said clamping means is slid down on said rod means to press the heel of the ski shoe towards said top surface of the ski and forcibly maintain it in such clamped position, while when said `actuating lever is manually pivoted against the action of said spring means past said dead-center position of said spring means said clamping means is slid in the opposite direction on said rod means to release said heel of the ski shoe.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Hatlapa 280-11.35 Weberling 280-11.35 Voster et al. 2SC-11.35 Poiger 280-11.35 Kato 280-11.35

LEO FRIAGLIA, Primary Examiner J. A. PEKAR, Assistant Examiner 

